Recreating an entire classroom on the floor of international exhibitions, the Great British Classroom will be at Bett Asia in November, the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) announced today.

After piloting the Great British Classroom at Bett Asia 2016 and with Qatari officials in the UK in March 2017, BESA officially launched the Great British Classroom initiative today, along with a new website.

Running as part of trade fairs showcasing the Best of British products and services, the Great British Classroom builds a typical UK classroom on the exhibition floor.

Using cutting-edge EdTech and classroom materials, teachers deliver live lessons with students from the local country, making it a lively and engaging addition to any exhibition.

BESA will liaise with a wide range of UK education suppliers to ensure that their products are on display at the classroom – wherever in the world the trade exhibition is taking place. It will also work closely with the Department for International Trade to ensure the classroom meets the specifications of the host country.

The Great British Classroom that took place at the Qatar Business Investment Summit on 28 March 2017 received the UK Secretary of State, Liam Fox, and the Qatari Prime Minister, HE Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, among many other senior education and investment officials.

They all recognise that the Great British Classroom is a highlight of trade exhibitions, as it brings British educational resources to life and demonstrates their adaptability and appeal to local markets around the world.

Caroline Wright, Director General of BESA and founder of the Great British Classroom, is delighted to officially launch the initiative.

“We at BESA have been very much looking forward to this day, and it is a real pleasure to see that a government and international officials alike commend the Great British Classroom concept.

“As the trade association for UK education suppliers and with over 300 members, BESA found it strategically relevant to launch the large, international events of Bett and GESS over the years. I believe the Great British Classroom goes one step further, offering international educators the chance to live out the expertise and high-quality of our members’ services and products.

“The Great British Classroom will therefore open a wider range of international opportunities for our world-leading UK education companies.”